Friday frenzy

Oscar Wilde once wrote: “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Well, we have the prices, but it’s up to you to determine the value. The Black Friday sales frenzy has started early with pre- and pre-pre-pre sales hitting the market. But here’s a sampling of bargains for shoppers looking for smartphones, tablets, PCs and other computer and network goodies from the likes of Apple, Samsung, HP, Amazon and Dell, and from retailers such as Best Buy, Target and Sam’s Club.

Best Buy: MacBook Pro with 13.3-inch display

This Apple laptop, normally priced at $1,050, will be knocked down to $900 for Thanksgiving/Black Friday in store and online. Powered by an Intel i5 quad-core processor, this machine boasts 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Best Buy: Toshiba 49-inch HDTV

This in-store-only deal is a whopper: Best Buy is slashing the price from $430 to $150 for this LED set with 1080p resolution.

Best Buy: Galaxy Tab S2 Tablet

This newest model of Samsung’s Android tablet, with a 9.7-inch display and 32GB of storage, has been marked down to $400 from $500. Best Buy is selling the 8-inch model for $350, which amounts to a $50 savings.

Amazon: Kindle

Starting on Nov. 22, Amazon will be practically giving away its 6-inch Kindle e-readers for $50, which is about 40% off the regular price. (This is not the backlit Paperwhite version.)

Amazon: Fire TV Stick

Starting on Nov. 6, Amazon will make its Fire TV Stick available for just $25, giving you access to Amazon Prime videos and more (sure wish the free selection of movies was better…)

Amazon: Newest edition of Fire Tablet

Save $15 on this 7-inch touchscreen tablet with WiFi connectivity and 8GB of storage. Goes on sale for $35 on Nov. 26.

Staples: Toshiba Windows 10 laptop

This Toshiba laptop, powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and running Windows 10, has been marked down for Black Friday (starting online on Thanksgiving Day) from $650 to $400. The machine boasts a 15.6-inch screen, 8GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive.

Staples: iPad Air 2 tablet

An iPad Air 2 will be available for $450, which is $150 off the usual price. Features a 9.7-inch Retina display, 802.11ac WiFi connectivity and 64GB of storage. Other iPad models will also be marked down by up to 25%.

Staples: Netgear router

Dell: OptiPlex 3020 mini tower

This throwback desktop machine, powered by an Intel i3 processor and running Windows 7 Professional (yes, with a free Win10 Pro upgrade), packs 4GB of RAM and 500GB of storage. Dell is slicing the price from $827 to $500.

Sam’s Club: iPad Air 2

$150 off either an iPad Air 2 with 64GB or 128GB of storage, so that would set you back either $440 or $540. Available in store or online, with free shipping. Starts Thanksgiving day, with stores opening at 7 am on Black Friday.

Sam’s Club: Vizio TV

A Vizio 58-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $700 – that’s $300 off the usual price. Free shipping too if you don’t want to lug it from the store.

Target: iPhone 6S/6S Plus

Target will be aiding Apple by hawking the latest iPhones for $50 less than the usual $200 (iPhone 6S) and $300 (iPhone 6S Plus) for 16GB models, with qualifying two-year service plan from Verizon or Sprint. Or you can put nothing down and get a $250 Target gift card if you want to go the installment billing route. Available as of 9 pm on Thanksgiving day.

Target: Apple Watch

Apple Watch models that come at 38mm high will be available for purchase at the usual $350 price, but you’ll get a $100 Target gift card. Just make sure that if you’re buying one of these for a gift that the recipient owns an iPhone 5 or newer and is running iOS 9.

Target: Xbox One Gears of War bundle

Target is marking down the price for this Ultimate Bundle, including a 500GB Xbox One and the game Gears of War, from $350 to $300 for Black Friday shoppers. What’s more, you get a $60 Target gift card tossed in. (Gamestop is also selling the package for $300, though there does not appear to be a gift card included in its deal.)

Costco: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 bundle

This flexible tablet/PC with 128GB of storage is the second newest model of Microsoft’s would-be iPad killer, and it comes with a pen and Pro Type Cover, as well as with Windows 10 and a one-year subscription for Office 365 Personal. Costco is selling it for $900, which is $250 off the regular price.

Costco: Samsung curved PC monitor

This 27-inch curved PC monitor boasts an HD screen and is marked down from $300 to $200 for Costco members.

Gordmans: Beats headphones

These super special wireless headphones have a $300 sticker price, but Gordmans is offering doorbuster deals from 6 pm on Thanksgiving to 1 pm on Black Friday at $180. After 1 pm, the price rises to $250. The Bluetooth headphones from Beats by Dre (now part of Apple) feature 12-hour rechargeable batteries.

BJ’s Wholesale: Samsung Smart WiFi Blu-ray player

If you haven’t completely swung over to streaming videos, you can pick up a DVD player on the cheap at many places now. Among the deals is this Samsung device for $55, which is $35 off the usual price. Keep in mind you need to be part of the club.

JCPenney: Camera-equipped quadcopter

This Sky King Quadrone with camera, regularly priced at $150, can be had for $50. It can be controlled up to about 260 feet and does all sorts of tricks, though also comes with spare rotors just in case…

Five Below: Selfie Stick

What would a holiday shopping binge be without a stop by Five Below to stuff stockings and find office presents? Among the techie deals at this store: The price of a 3-foot selfie stick has been slashed from $5 to $2.99. Comes with an AUX cable and fits most cellphones (for those of you who would trust a $600 phone on a $2.99 stick…). Deals start at 6 pm on Thanksgiving and go until 1 am, then stores reopen on Black Friday at 7 am.

Kohl’s: Projector system

This Black Series entertainment projector, which regularly sells for $100, is marked down to $40 for Black Friday. Hook up your TV or gaming system, or pop in a DVD, and project the action up to 10 feet wide on any surface. Weighs just 3 pounds. Kohl’s stores open at 6 pm on Thanksgiving, though many deals will be available online starting on Nov. 23.

Kohl’s: Bluetooth character speakers

Cute little iHome Bluetooth character speakers for $20 rather than the usual $40. (I’ve personally always had issues with iHome stuff flaking out on me, but you might not be able to go wrong with this price as a stocking stuffer.) Characters include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney and Star Wars favorites.

Meijer: Linksys AC1900 WiFi Dual-Band+ Router

This 802.11ac router, featuring 4 gigabit ports, is on sale for $99.50, half the usual price. Includes three adjustable antennas.

Meijer: Samsung Chromebook 2

The web-oriented laptop, featuring an 11.6 LED HD display, 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, is specially priced at $200, $50 off the usual price. What’s more, Meijer offers a $50 coupon for a future shopping trip.

Spire fitness tracker

This company says its “mindfulness wearable,” available for purchase from Apple.com, Amazon.com and Spire.io, lets you know when you’re stressed out and guides you through short breathing exercises. The stylish device, which works with an app that can be paired up with Apple’s Healthkit, might be just the thing for those braving Black Friday sales. Will be reduced in price from $150 to $112.50 from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

eBay: Apple MacBook Air with 11.6-inch screen

EBay’s Black Friday special offers this 128GB laptop for $720, about 20% off the usual $900 price. The lightweight machine (2.38 pounds) comes with an Intel Core i5 processor and boasts 12 hours of battery life.

eBay: Samsung 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV

This is a serious price cut, from $4,000 for the 4K TV to $1,800.

Shopko: LG 43-inch LED HDTV

This regularly priced $500 TV with 1080p resolution will sell for just under $300, in store only, as a Black Friday Doorbuster.

Target: Galaxy Tab A tablet

Target is dropping the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8, with 9.7-inch screen, to $230 from $300. Plus, you get a $30 Target gift card when you buy this Android device.